Plastic in the ocean: an urgent problem
Although polymers were discovered about a hundred years ago, the material has gained a key position in production processes. Today, the world produces more than 400 million tons of plastic.
The material enabled numerous advances in the most diverse areas. In fact, it is unlikely to think of many of the modern solutions we use in our daily lives without the existence and use of plastic. Doubt? Take a look around you and see how thermoplastics are present.
In addition to representing a great ally of processes and products due to its characteristics, diversity and ease of molding, plastic has the potential to be an ally of the environment, being among the raw materials with the greatest possibility of recycling.
The problem is that of all the plastic produced in the world annually, only 9% of that total is recycled, according to UN data. Thus, the fate of the overwhelming majority of plastic ends up being landfills, dumps and, of course, the ocean.